2027: Arewa youth backs eight-year tenure for Tinubu, warns against northern candidacy
The Arewa Youth Assembly (AYA) has said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu should be allowed to complete an eight-year tenure for the Southern region, cautioning Northern politicians against contesting the 2027
The Arewa Youth Assembly (AYA) has said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu should be allowed to complete an eight-year tenure for the Southern region, cautioning Northern politicians against contesting the 2027 presidential election.
The group said its position was aimed at promoting national unity, cohesion and continuity in governance, stressing that the zoning arrangement should be upheld.
In a statement signed by its Speaker, Mohammed Salihu Danlami, the Assembly urged Northern political actors to refrain from presenting themselves as candidates in the 2027 election.
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The AYA noted that no prominent Southerner contested against former President Muhammadu Buhari during his tenure, allowing the North to complete its eight-year cycle.
It added that it is now the turn of the South to complete its tenure under Tinubu, warning that any attempt to alter the arrangement would face opposition.
The group further stated that any Northerner seeking to contest in 2027 would be seen as acting against fairness and the interests of Northern youths.
Beyond the zoning debate, the Assembly said the Tinubu administration has initiated reforms in the economy, security and infrastructure, which it claimed are already yielding results.
It said government policies had saved between ₦4 trillion and ₦7 trillion annually, while exchange rate unification had improved transparency and boosted external reserves from about $4 billion in 2023 to over $20 billion in 2025.
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According to the group, the debt service-to-revenue ratio had also dropped from about 97 per cent to below 50 per cent, freeing resources for development.
AYA noted that the reforms had drawn commendation from global financial institutions, including the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.
On security, it said intensified military operations and intelligence coordination had led to the neutralisation of insurgents and bandits and the rescue of kidnapped victims.
The Assembly cited the elimination of notorious bandit leaders and disruption of criminal networks, adding that farming activities were gradually returning in previously unsafe communities.
It also pointed to ongoing infrastructure investments, including rail and road projects, as evidence of the administration’s commitment to development.
AYA said the reforms required continuity to mature, warning that truncating them at this stage would be counterproductive.
The group pledged massive support for Tinubu’s re-election in 2027 and urged government officials to improve communication of achievements to the grassroots, insisting that the President must complete his eight years in office.
